The CandidateAfter an outstanding junior season in which he was the 12th-leading scorer in the nation, UCSB guard Alex Harris will enter his senior season as a legitimate honors candidate. One of the best offensive players on the West Coast, Harris stepped-up his game in virtually every category last year and whether his scoring in 2007-08 can match its 2006-07 level, he seems poised to have an even greater overall impact on Gaucho fortunes.

First Things FirstAs a junior, Harris averaged 21.1 points per game, earning him the Big West scoring championship. Harris became the first UCSB player to win the league scoring title since the 1996-97 season when Raymond Tutt did so. Following the year, Harris was named First Team All-Big West and Second Team All-District by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

A Small Step For Man, A Giant Step For GauchokindAs a sophomore in 2005-06, Harris averaged 8.3 points per game. His 2006-07 scoring average of 21.1 points per game was an increase of 12.8 points per game, the largest jump from one season to the next of any Gaucho on record. Harris entered his junior season having scored 458 points in his first two seasons, a total of 58 games and 1,506 minutes. In 2006-07, he played in all 29 games, a total of 1,018 minutes and he scored 611 points.

Rank And File SeasonIn 2006-07, Harris had an offensive season that ranks among the best in UCSB annals. He became just the third player in school history to eclipse 600 points and his 611 ranks third all-time. His 21.1 points per game also ranks third. In addition, Harris transformed himself from a very average three-point shooter into one of the finest in school history. His 71 three-pointers were the fourth most for a Gaucho and his percentage of 45.8% was second only to Raymond Tutt's 46.6%. Finally, Harris made 158 free throws on the year, the second most ever and he became just the second Gaucho to attempt 200 or more free throws in a single season, finishing with 201.

A Quick StartAs a junior, Harris didn't waste any time sprinting out of the starting blocks. After averaging more than 30 points per game in a pair of exhibition games, he scored 25 in the season-opener against San Jose State, leading UCSB to a come-from-behind win. His performance against the Spartans earned him Big West Player of the Week honors, but Harris didn't stop there. He scored 20 or more in the first six games of the season, going for 25 or more three times. In his first two seasons, a total of 58 games, Harris never scored 20 or more points.

A Faster FinishIn his first two seasons at UCSB, Harris struggled as the seasons wound to their respective conclusions. As a junior, he didn't just end the season strong, he ended it with the best basketball of his career. Harris scored 22 or more in each of the last six games of the season. Over the final six, he averaged 26.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. He made 48-of-97 shots overall, 49.5%, and 23-of-36 from three-point range, 63.9%. In game two of the final six-game stretch, at Cal State Fullerton, Harris scored a career-high 35 points, the most scored by a Gaucho in 10 years.

2007-08After a tremendous junior season in 2006-07, Alex Harris will be an All-America candidate as a senior in 2007-08...He will again be inked in as one of the starters at a wing spot, and should carry a large portion of UCSB's offensive load...Added strength should help Harris improve his all-around game in his final season...Harris will enter the 2007-08 season with a career total of 1,069 points, the 18th most in school history.

2006-07Harris' emergence as a junior in 2006-07 was stunning...After averaging 7.9 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in his first two seasons, Harris exploded as a junior, leading the Big West in scoring at 21.1 points per game and also contributing 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists...He was named First Team All-Big West and Second Team All-District 15 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches...He was a two-time Big West Player of the Week...His 21.1 points per game ranked 11th in the nation and third all-time at UCSB...Harris scored 20 or more points 18 times in 2006-07, including each of the first seven games and each of the final six...In the last six games, he averaged 26.0 points per game...Had 25 or more points 10 times and 30 or more twice...His 35-point game against Cal State Fullerton was a career-high and the most points scored by a Gaucho since the 1997-98 season...Harris also had a 32-point game in the league-opener against UC Riverside...Scored 28 points in a game against UC Davis and also had 27 points in games at Pepperdine, at Pacific, and against Eastern Washington...Harris had 20 points in UCSB's road win over UNLV, a team which ultimately advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament...Combined with forward Chris Devine to form the highest one-two single-season scoring punch in school history with 1,019 points...Harris made 71 three-point baskets on the season, the fourth most in school history, and he hit 45.8% from beyond the arc, the second best mark ever...Made at least one three-point basket in 27 of 29 games, two or more 19 times, including the last eight games, three or more 13 times and a career-high five four times...He made five three-pointers in three consecutive games near the end of the regular season and in the final six games of the year, Harris hit 23 out of 41 three-point attempts, 56.1%...Harris not only made a giant leap offensively as a junior, he improved in virtually every category...His 4.8 rebounds per game were easily a career-high and he had five or more rebounds 16 times in the last 26 games...Collected a season-high nine rebounds in the win over Cal State Fullerton and had eight rebounds in games against Fullerton, Cal Poly and San Francisco...Harris had a career-high 61 assists, including a personal-best six against San Diego State and Vanguard...He had three or more assists 10 times...With the possible exception of scoring, the one area where Harris made the most improvement was his shooting...In his first two seasons, he made 37.2% of his shots overall and 32.0% from three-point range, but as a junior, Harris hit 47.6% overall and a sparkling 45.8% from three-point range...He even improved his free throw percentage as he shot a career-best 78.6%, including 95.8% (23-of-24) in his last three games...He easily led the team in minutes played with 1,018, an average of 35.1 per game...Harris never played fewer than 24 minutes in a game, played 30 or more 27 times and 35 or more 18 times...He also played a career-high and school record 48 minutes in a double-overtime win over Pepperdine...His total of 1,018 minutes was 264 more than his previous high.

2005-06As a sophomore, Harris split his time between the wing and the point guard position...He played most of the second half of the season at wing and finished as the Gauchos' third-leading scorer at 8.3 points per game...Harris also ranked third on the team in assists at 2.0 per game and third in three-point baskets with 28...Scored 10 or more points 10 times, including four times in the first five games of the season...Had a career-high 17 points in a home victory over Long Beach State...Had 15 points in games against Loyola Marymount, UC Riverside and UC Davis...Produced the first double-double of his career with 14 points and 10 rebounds against San Diego...The 10 rebounds were a career-high and they were all on the defensive end...He had five or more rebounds eight times...Harris had eight rebounds against Portland and seven at North Carolina...Had season-high five assists in games against San Francisco, San Diego State, Cal State Northridge and Sonoma State...Had season-high four steals against Sonoma State...Had season-high four three-pointers in season-opener against San Francisco...Had two or more three-pointers seven times...While he shot 37.4% for the season, Harris shot 42.0% over the season's final 11 games...He was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field in a win over UC Davis...Harris was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line, including four in the final minute, in a win at Long Beach State.

2004-05Harris was selected to the Big West All-Freshman Team in 2004-05...Averaged 7.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game...Played much of the first half of his freshman season at a wing position, but made the shift to point at midseason...Scored in double-figures nine times...Scored a season-high 16 points in games at Cal State Fullerton, at Pacific and at Cal Poly...His 15-point effort in a season-opening win at San Diego State was a school record by a Gaucho freshman in a debut game...Six of his nine double-figure scoring efforts came on the road...His 216 total points ranked tenth all-time among UCSB freshmen...Harris suffered through a late-season shooting slump and finished at 36.9% from the floor and 32.8% from three-point range...Through the first 23 games of the season, he shot 42.4% overall and 40.0% from three-point range...In the last six games, he made just 6-of-27 shots overall (16.2%) and 1-for-14 (7.1%) from three-point territory...Made a season-best three three-point baskets at Cal State Fullerton and against Utah State...Made two or more three-pointers six times...He had a high of five assists in wins over Cal Poly and UC Riverside...He had four steals in a win over Idaho and he had two or more steals six times, all in the season's final 19 games...Harris had eight rebounds at UC Davis and he had five or more six times, including five in the last 17 games...Started final 15 games.

High SchoolHarris attended St. Joseph Notre Dame High School...Had an outstanding senior season, averaging 19.0 points, 6.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game...Led St. Joseph Notre Dame HS to a 29-6 record and the California State Division 4 Championship...In the state championship game, Harris had 19 points, ten rebounds and six assists, and he scored 11 points in the decisive fourth quarter, including the game-winning three-point basket...He was chosen the CalHi Sports State Division 4 Player of the Year, the CIF North Coast Section Player of the Year, the Bay Shore Athletic League Player of the Year, the San Francisco Chronicle Bay Area Player of the Year and the Alameda Journal Player of the Year...Harris was a Cal Hi Sports First Team All-State Division 4 choice and a Second Team All-State choice with all divisions included...Also named First Team All-North Coast Section, First Team All-Bay Shore Athletic League and First Team All-Northern California...Scored a career-high 34 points against University of San Diego HS...Also had a 30-point game against Serra HS...Harris averaged 15 or more points in each of his four high school seasons...Coached by Don Lippi.

PersonalAlexander Cory Harris was born January 30, 1986 in Mission Viejo, Calif....In addition to his athletic achievements in high school, Harris was also selected CIF North Coast Section Scholar Athlete of the Year...A member of the Principal's Honor Roll at St. Joseph Notre Dame HS...Winning the California State Championship is Harris' most memorable sports moment...His favorite professional sports teams are the Golden State Warriors and the Oakland Raiders...His favorite novel is The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr....Favorite musical artist is Mos Def...Majoring in business economics...The son of Anthony and Angela Harris.